MW Elite: Recruiting notes
MURRAY, Utah -- Despite rainy conditions, some of the top
prospects in the state of Utah gathered at Cottonwood High School on Friday for
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the Mountain West Elite Camp. Here is a look at the biggest recruiting notes
from the event.
One out front for Heimuli-Lund
Heimuli-Lund will visit California and Stanford this
coming weekend.
Four-star inside linebacker Sione Heimuli-Lund recently visited
and returned home with a great impression of the Sun Devils after getting to
meet head coach Todd Graham. Yet, the early
Rivals100 member for the 2017 class
admitted Stanford holds a considerable lead over every other program that has
extended a scholarship offer.
The 6-foot, 230-pound prospect from Salt Lake City (Utah) Brighton doubles as a
bruising power back and the Cardinal have told him they could use him on the
offensive side, too. Heimuli-Lund is set to visit California and Stanford for
the first time this coming weekend and, if everything feels right, he said he
Wisconsin are a few of the schools that have dropped by during the spring
evaluation period, and Heimuli-Lund said he might camp with UCLA and
USC this
summer.
Stock rising
Outside linebacker Pookie Maka has seen his recruitment blow up as of late,
landing an offer from Wisconsin on Saturday and maintaining contact with various
Pac-12 schools. He is lining up some trips for this summer, including to USC,
whose assistant coach Peter Sirmon visited Maka recently. The 6-foot-3,
200-pound prospect from Cottonwood, Utah, said he would compete at the Trojans'
Rising Stars Camp next month.
Maka has 10 offers and wants to take his official visits before arriving at a
decision. Arizona, Arizona State and Missouri could all be close to joining the
offer sheet. Maka admitted BYU might be the most
appealing option because of its location and the Cougars are recruiting him
Washington State are
the Pac-12 schools that have offered.
Kaufusi looking for more
Jackson Kaufusi has three offers and he'll look to add to that this summer at
various camps. The 6-foot-2, 189-pound prospect from Salt Lake City (Utah)
Brighton is listed as an athlete, but his offers are at outside linebacker and
strong safety.
A decision won't be announced until after the high school football season, Kaufusi said, but he considers Cal's academics a strong selling point. Utah is
making a push to keep him close to home, though, and that could be difficult for
other suitors to overcome.
Interest picking up for Torre
Several Pac-12 schools have stopped by to watch Torre
this spring.
Three-star quarterback Keaton Torre of South Jordan (Utah) Bingham decommitted
from Louisville earlier this spring and has seen his recruitment pick up ever
since.
A majority of the Pac-12 programs have shown up to his school recently, with
Oregon State, Utah and Washington State all expressing interest in seeing Torre
throw at their camps. BYU remains a serious player as the Cougars have offered
and 6-foot-3, 205-pound gunslinger has built a strong connection with
quarterbacks coach Jason Beck. Torre said he doesn't know yet when he'd like to
make another decision.
Wild card in the mix
Stanford and assistant coach Lance Anderson appear to be getting more involved
with Smithfield (Utah) Skyview outside linebacker Max Christensen, who has plans
to camp with the Cardinal this summer. Oregon State and Washington have also
stopped by during the spring evaluation period to check on the 6-foot-3,
220-pound prospect, so the Pac-12 interest is building.
Christensen, who had 60 total tackles and nine sacks as a junior last season,
Boise State could be the wild
card. He has been in communication with defensive line coach Steve Caldwell
there, attended the Broncos' junior day and has a family connection to the
school, with his father being a graduate and his grandmother living near the
campus.
Miller looking for first offer
Pro-style quarterback Justin Miller drew a visit from Washington assistant coach
Jordan Paopao this past week and received favorable reviews following his
throwing session. Miller had to throw inside the gym at his school due to
weather, but got great feedback when he reached Paopao on the phone and now the
6-foot-4, 205-pound prospect holds an invitation to camp with the Huskies this
summer.
A transplant from Irvine, Calif., Miller was the quarterback most valuable
player at the Utah camp last year. He has also been in contact with San Diego
State and Utah State, but is still searching for his first offer.
Taylor is a big draw
Fifteen different schools have stopped by to see Taylor this spring.
Fifteen different college programs have dropped by Plain City (Utah) Fremont
this spring period and it's believed to be a record for the school. A big draw
has been 2017 quarterback Caleb Taylor, who had a great showing two months ago
at the inaugural Rivals Quarterback Challenge in Los Angeles.
Taylor took a tour of some schools in the South a few weeks ago and said a
number of coaches want him to return this summer to throw at camps. Alabama,
Boise State, BYU, Mississippi State and Utah are all on the itinerary.
